Bright idea: light therapy may boost sleep and brain function in early Alzheimer's
NCT ID NCT04073628
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a long-term light treatment could improve sleep and memory in 73 people with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer's disease living at home. Participants used a special light device, and researchers measured changes in thinking skills and sleep quality. The study also looked at how the light affected caregivers' sleep and well-being.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
73 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jun 2021
- Finished
-
Apr 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
50 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria for MCI/Mild AD Participant: * Subject has diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer's disease (AD), as defined by a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score between 17 and 24 and those who fall between 0.5-4.0 and 4.5-9.0 in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SOB) instrument * Subject has sleep disturbance indicated by a score \>5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep efficiency below 80% as indicated via actigraphy * Subject resides in his/her home, independent living, or assisted living facilities with a caregiver. Exclusion Criteria for MCI/Mild AD Participant: * Subject diagnosed with another brain disease that fully explains the dementia (extensive brain vascular disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis) * Subject resides in a skilled nursing facility or long-term care * Subject has had recent changes in psychotropics (14 days) * Subject has major organ failure (e.g., kidney failure) * Subject has uncontrolled generalized disorders such as hypertension or diabetes * Subject has obstructing cataracts, macular degeneration, and/or blindness * Subject has undergone cataract surgery and received an intraocular lens coated with ultraviolet- and blue-blocking filters (400-440/440-500 nm) * Subject diagnosed with severe sleep apnea; using the Sleep Apnea scale of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (SA-SDQ) the study will use a score of 29 as a cutoff for men and a cutoff of 26 for women * Subject diagnosed with restless leg syndrome (RLS); using the International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS), the study will use a cutoff of ≥11 as a positive screen for RLS * Subject has a history of severe photosensitivity dermatitis, severe progressive retinal disease (e.g., macular degeneration), or a permanently dilated pupil (e.g., after certain types of cataract surgery) For caregivers, we will accept those who: * Live with the patients * Are not diagnosed with dementia (MOCA between 25 and 30 and CDR=0) * Understand English * Are willing to help with the study * No other inclusion/exclusion criteria will be used for enrolling caregivers. There is no age requirement for caregivers.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Alzheimer's disease are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Albany, New York, 12204, United States
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, New York, 10029, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Randomized, delayed start, double blind, parallel group, placebo controlled, multicenter study of piromelatine 20 mg in participants with mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease
- ACTIVE: adding life to years in cognitive frailty by preventing falls
- Could brain stimulation help Alzheimer's patients think more clearly?
- A new roadmap to predict Alzheimer's before memory fails
- Can a 500-Person study unlock Alzheimer's early signs?
- Gut bacteria may hold clues to memory decline